Syrian-Turkish tensions rise

There is growing unease here in Istanbul two days after a Turkish jet was shot down by Syria.

Residents are worried the incident could inflame an already tesne relationship between the two countries.

(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) ISTANBUL RESIDENT, ENDER DINDAR, SAYING:

"A Turkish warplane was shot down but Turkey shouldn't respond with rage, because a military intervention in Syria would be a big challenge on its own."

In a TV interview, Turkey's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the jet was shot down over international waters, about 20km from the Syrian border.

(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER, AHMET DAVUTOGLU, SAYING:

"The Turkish jet was on a training mission to test a domestic radar system concerning the latest developments on the east Mediterranean coast. Its mission had no connection to the current crisis in Syria."

He added that Turkey would formally consult its NATO allies on a reaction this week.

Meanwhile, a search is ongoing for the plane's two pilots.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman said they had located the cordinates of the down jet, but didn't know if the pilots had ejected successfully.

Andrew Raven, Reuters